It’s recommended that school-aged children and teens get sixty minutes of exercise each day. Considering that a good part of their day is spent in school, some of that has to fit in during the school day. Unfortunately many schools don’t have a good physical education programs and our kids are missing out on many levels, says author of Child’s Play, Silken Laumann. “We aren’t teaching to the whole child, the mind, the body, the spirit of the child, and we just need to refocus on bringing that play and that physical activity back. One of the ways, obviously, is to prioritize having a physical activity expert either in a school full-time, or certainly in a district full-time to empower teachers to teach better quality, more innovative physical education.”

Silken adds that there are many ways teachers can incorporate fitness into the curriculum.”You know, you can teach math class by doing the perimeter of the school yard and them coming back and doing some graphs. You can learn about nature and photosynthesis by being outside.”

The Parent Report’s expert guest is Silken Laumann, a former Olympic athlete, author of Child’s Play and founder of Active Kids.

From the nationally syndicated radio show “The Parent Report” hosted by Joanne Wilson and heard on more than 100 radio stations. Any advice or information contained herein should never be a substitute for professional and/or medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. For more information please review Terms of Service.